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16-18 Swift card

Get child rate tickets

If you are aged 16-18, you are entitled to child rate travel when you have a valid 16-18 Swift card.

What is a 16-18 Swift card?

A 16-18 Swift card allows you to buy tickets at child rate.

Am I eligible for the 16-18 Swift card?

To be eligible for the 16-18 Swift card, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. You must be under 18 on the 1st September
  2. As 16-18 Swift cards are subsidised by the local authority, your household must pay Council Tax to one of the following boroughs:
    Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, & Wolverhampton

If you don't meet these criteria, but you are still in full time education, you can order a student ticket.
If you don't meet these criteria, and you are not in full time education, you will need to order an adult ticket.

How do I get a 16-18 Swift card?

When you buy a pass through our website, we will automatically send it to you loaded onto a 16-18 Swift card.

What tickets can I buy with my 16-18 photocard?

You can buy the following tickets with your 16-18 Swift card:

  • Single & day tickets
  • 1 week & 4 week tickets
  • Monthly Direct Debit subscription
  • Term tickets
Topping up & updating your Swift card

How do I buy tickets with my 16-18 Swift card?

Topping up your card online

You can top up your existing 16-18 card online, by choosing the ticket you want and following our online order process. Once you've paid for your ticket, you will need to update your card using the Swift Collector app for this to work

Topping up at a Payzone agent

You can top up your card by taking it to a Payzone agent, who will load the ticket onto your existing 16-18 card. You cannot get a new 16-18 card from a Payzone agent.

Buying tickets on the bus

If you want to buy a ticket on the bus, you will need to show your 16-18 card and ask the driver for the ticket you want. You will then need to pay cash and take your ticket before taking your seat.

I've loaded my ticket onto my 16-18 card, what do I do now?

Once you have your ticket loaded onto your 16-18 card, simply hold the card to the reader when you board the bus until the light goes green and take a seat.

Other Swift card FAQs

How do I replace my lost 16-18 Swift card?

If you have an active ticket loaded onto your 16-18 Swift card, you will need to contact our Customer Services team by using our replacement form.
There is a £7.50 fee to replace a lost Swift card.

If you do not have an active ticket loaded onto your card, you will need to place a new order on our website.

I am currently on a child Direct Debit but will be turning 16, what happens next?

Don't worry, we will automatically send you a 16-18 card up to a month before your current child Swift card expires.

If you do not receive your 16-18 card 5 working days before your child Swift card expires, please contact us here.

Please note

Your household must pay council tax to one of the following Metropolitan Councils to qualify - Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Solihull or Coventry.

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